This is an outstanding thread. I am originally from California, and we (Californians) are rather informal people. It is nice to learn about etiquette and courtesies. It seems that these are things of the past in the United States, and this is not a good thing. One thing that makes me especially crazy is seeing people chewing gum in public and men who spit on the sidewalk. I think that polite behavior is not always evident in today's society. This is unfortunate, and perhaps Americans can learn from these rules of etiquette, despite the fact that we don't have royalty. These rules can apply to everyday life.

I agree with you. I think that the biggest pet peave of mine is chewing while your mouth is open, or you are talking! That drives me CRAZY!! Also, the chewing gum thing, some people look like a cow chewing cud and to me that is not what gum was intended for. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.

Also, it is wise to remember The Queen of Enlgand is not a waitress at a coffee shop/Starbucks. I remember with much embarrassment when Nancy Reagan pleaded with Her Majesty to find a cup of decaffeinated coffee for the President.Her Majesty handled it with wide eyed amusement and bellowed (yes) out to a waiter (this happened onboard Britannia) to fetch a cup while Nancy stood there wringing her hands at The Queen...

Yes, I never understood why Mrs. Reagan would ask the Queen for decaf when there were approximately seven thousand serving staff around. I mean, can you imagine HRH Prince Philip saying "George, could you get me a cup of tea?"

I've seen that footage a number of times and to me, HM was only too pleased to tend Mrs. Reagan's request. The Queen takes much pride in her guests needs being met, even if it is a mere cup of decaffeinated coffee and I think she gets a tickle out of it. I mean, this is a lady, notably a Queen, who does enjoy the odd protocol mishap afterall.

You must also remember that at this time the Alzheimers which eventually took his life was beginning to take hold. The victims of this disease begin to be easily flustered and tend to focus on innocuous matters to try to maintain some sense of control when things are starting to get fuzzy. Plus...Nancy was totally devoted to him. Whatever he wanted she was going to make sure he got, even if it was simply a cup of decaf. I'm sure the Queen didn't mind it a bit. She has, I'm sure, seen and heard much more demanding, and less polite, requests than that.

Well, the established rule is you wait for them to approach you but a simple "Good Morning Ma'am" as they pass is a nice way of making a greeting that isn't too pushy and gives them the opportunity to say the same back or to engage in a longer conversation.

If we're going to get into nitty-gritty of protocol, you must first address a royal lady as "Your Highness" before calling her "ma'am" for the rest of the conversation. The same goes for royal men and "Sir".

Onboard Britannia, HM the Queen is the hostess. It is never impolite for a guest to request something from the hostess; in fact, it is more polite to defer to a hostess with a specific request. I haven't seen the video, but if the First Lady was demanding rather than requesting, it is rude. And pleading is just plain awkward.
Nancy Reagan was apparently very strange to the royal family. She often had no idea how to handle the staff (something which hardly suprises me about the woman).

I've met Queen Elizabeth at a drisage competition outside of Toronto. She wasn't expected to come into the training area but chose to. I was wearing work clothes and had dirty hands and when she put her hand out to shake mine, I had no choice but to receive it with the bow to go with it (this made me laugh to myself actually).

She was very friendly and asked a few questions and didn't even question the dirt on my hands. After, I nearly fainted when I realized I had just met the Queen, dirty handed!

I'm not sure if it is considered "protocol", but Queen elizabeth II detests for women to wear pants in her presence. I don't believe it really has any backing in any real "protocol", but more in her old fashioned ways. She doesn't like her lady's in waiting or any of her courtiers that are women to wear pants around her, and wearing a skirt without tights in her presence is considered violation of protocal.

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“Hollywood amuses me. Holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality”

... She doesn't like her lady's in waiting or any of her courtiers that are women to wear pants around her, and wearing a skirt without tights in her presence is considered violation of protocal.

My mum always says to me: A real lady always wears tights, it doesn’t matter how warm it is outside. And I couldn’t and wouldn’t believe this and as a result I’ve got a book about right behaviour and there is it also written…

My mum always says to me: A real lady always wears tights, it doesn’t matter how warm it is outside. And I couldn’t and wouldn’t believe this and as a result I’ve got a book about right behaviour and there is it also written…

i knew this too, a real lady use tights, fo this i was thinking too about CP Mary this week end with the short dress and sandals and no tights! i was surprise!

I have no doubt that The Queen has seen everything in the way of 'gaffs' & 'embarrassments' in her presence. And, she probably just chuckles to herself and then she and Prince Philip have a good laugh later on.
After all, they probably don't get much real humour from everybody around them, all acting "correctly"....

Canadacub:
As for you presenting a dirt covered glove to shake her hand - - she wouldn't bat an eye over that as she is many times in the stables herself and handling horses and dogs all the time.
And also, she comes readily equipped always with spare clean gloves - either in her handbag or a lady-in-waiting's handbag.
No sweat there, chum!! I'm glad you met her....